Foreign Affairs

The House voted yesterday to impose sanctions on Syria that would prohibit it from buying dual-use technology and that could restrict diplomatic and economic ties until the nation ends its weapons programs and ties to terrorism.

A House committee handed a victory to President Bush on Thursday by approving nearly $87 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan and fending off lawmakers who wanted Iraq to eventually repay some of the aid.

The Republican-led House Appropriations Committee approved the legislation by 47-14, paving the way to likely approval by the full House next Wednesday or Thursday. All 14 "no" votes were from Democrats, but 15 Democratic members voted for the measure.

The Senate plans votes next week on its own, similar package.

On October 15, Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI), Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, went to the Rules Committee and sought to have his Democratic substitute to the Iraq Supplemental bill made in order by the rule. The Obey substitute does more than the GOP bill to support our troops and encourages international participation in stabilizing and rebuilding Iraq. And the substitute does so at less cost to middle-class taxpayers.

Specifically, the Obey substitute includes the following provisions:

WASHINGTON – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, successfully amended the 2004 Iraq Supplemental Appropriations bill today in the full House Committee mark-up to require greater accountability on such areas as the money spent and progress made in Iraq and Afghanistan and the effect the war is having on our troops and readiness, as well as language requiring advanced review of the awarding of no-bid contracts.  Congressman Hoyer released the following statement regarding his amendments:

WASHINGTON – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer delivered the following statement today on the $87 billion Iraq supplemental currently being debated:

“Mr. Speaker, I will vote for this Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill providing $87 billion for our continuing efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, will offer two amendments at today’s House Appropriations Committee mark-up of the fiscal year 2004 Iraq Supplemental bill.  The first amendment requires quarterly reports that provide accountability in past and future spending, detail progress in reconstruction and obtaining international assistance, and estimate expected future costs, among other items.  The second requires advanced review of no-bid contracts, rather than after-the-fact review.  Co

<h4>Hoyer: "the Bush Administration did not have a plan for winning the peace, which was a serious mistake both in terms of American lives and money"</h4>

<p>&#187; <a class="sidebarBlue" href="/media/press.cfm?pressReleaseID=235">House Democratic Whip Hoyer's Statement</a></p>

<p>&#187; <a class="sidebarBlue" href="/media/press.cfm?pressReleaseID=276">Statement of Congressman John Spratt, Ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee and Assistant to the Democratic Leader</a></p>

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD) today spoke out on the House Floor in favor of H.R. 1828, the bipartisan Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, which would impose sanctions and other penalties on Syria.  The following is Rep. Hoyer’s statement as prepared for delivery:

WASHINGTON - House Majority Leader Tom DeLay "is in no position to question the patriotism" of President Bush's critics on Iraq, having once scathingly condemned President Clinton's military strategy in Bosnia, a Democratic leader said Thursday.

Rep. Steny Hoyer quoted DeLay as saying that the 1999 NATO-led bombing campaign was "President Clinton's war."

Washington, DC – In a letter to the President, Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO) called on the Administration to address issues that are affecting U.S. service members’ security and quality of life while deployed in Iraq.  Skelton urged the President to provide funding for these urgent needs within the Administration’s $87 billion supplemental appropriations request for Iraq and Afghanistan.